Senator Cardin and East Coast Ports on Global Supply Chain

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin kicked off our globinar on "Global Supply Chain: East Coast Ports On Challenges and Path Forward" featuring regional experts, and sponsored by EMO Trans and Corpay.

Due to the Covid pandemic and the bottleneck caused by the west coast supply chain issues, congestion of cargo has impacted the U.S. and global trade in a major way. What are the alternatives in the East Coast ports that can help alleviate backups?

Listen to the conversation HERE.

Speakers included leaders from top East Coast ports and gateways including New York/New Jersey, Virginia and Jacksonville to give their views on challenges and opportunities. We discussed how each of these ports has been impacted by this supply chain issues and how they are planning for the future both in infrastructure and process. What needs to happen with the models at each port and the East Coast in general to create an effective pipeline for delivery of cargo?

Speaker Biographies

Senator Ben Cardin, United States Senator

Senator Ben Cardin is a third-generation Marylander, Ben Cardin has been a national leader on health care, retirement security, the environment and fiscal issues while representing the people of Maryland in the U.S. Senate, and before that in the House of Representatives. He has worked across party lines to further U.S. national security and to ensure that good governance, transparency and respect for human rights are integrated into American foreign policy efforts.

"He is a man of substance and integrity who understands complicated issues and the art of compromise."- The Baltimore Sun

First elected to the Senate in 2006, Senator Cardin currently serves as Chair of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, which is on the forefront of rebuilding our economy. He is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Finance, and Environment & Public Works committees.

Senator Cardin is a leading advocate for the Chesapeake Bay, which is the economic, historical and cultural heart of Maryland. Nationally, he is a champion of protecting our clean air and clean water. He has introduced legislation to restore the health of America's great water bodies and is the leading proponent of investing in improvements to America's aging water infrastructure system while preparing it for the impacts of climate change. His commitment to reduce pollution and protect our environment fuels his work to broaden investments in safe public transit, as well as walking and bike trails.

A member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee since arriving in the Senate, Senator Cardin helped write the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that has helped small businesses in Maryland and nationwide weather the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and he created the EIDL Advance Grant program to quickly get cash to small businesses in need. Senator Cardin was responsible for the extension of increased guarantees and reduced fees in the Small Business Administration's two largest loan programs. He has made it a priority to find better ways to provide access to credit for qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. He consistently is urging federal agencies to take all steps possible to meet or exceed their modest small business contracting goals. He also has been a strong defender of the federal workforce.

Senator Cardin believes access to quality, affordable health care should be a right and not a privilege, especially during a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. He continues to be a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for the addition of a public option for coverage. He led the fight for the Patients' Bill of Rights and, because of his efforts, the law ensures that individuals in private health insurance plans have the right to choose their primary care provider, women have direct access to an ob/gyn, and patients with medical emergencies are guaranteed coverage for necessary ER visits. He was responsible for the elevation of the National Institute for Minority Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health and has been a strong supporter of increases in funding for federally qualified health care centers and health information technology. Senator Cardin continues to be a leading champion for increased medical research funding for Maryland's world-class universities, NIH, and our State's cutting edge biotech industry.

One of Senator Cardin's proudest accomplishments was leading the fight to guarantee access to dental care for children in the Children's Health Insurance Program, following the tragic loss of a 12-year-old Prince George's County boy who died after complications that followed an untreated tooth infection. He continues to fight for dental coverage for adults and older Americans.

Senator Cardin has a deep interest in foreign affairs and has worked across party lines to further our national security and protect universal human rights. He has fought to ensure that anti-corruption, transparency and respect for human rights are integrated our foreign policy. He also has worked to ensure gender equity in national security programs and policies. He has been a Commissioner on the U.S. Helsinki Commission since 1993, serving as Chairman of the Commission in the current 117th, as well as the 113th and 111th Congresses. In 2015, he was named as the Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the 57-nation Organization Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. Senator Cardin serves as a member of the Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues. He previously has served as the Ranking Member of the SFRC East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy Subcommittee, and he is the former Chairman of the International Development and Foreign Assistance Subcommittee.

Serving as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during his first four years in the Senate, Senator Cardin also has developed a reputation for defending civil rights at home and has sought to find a balance between protection of civil liberties and national security. He is the lead sponsors of legislation to prohibit racial and religious profiling by all levels of law enforcement, restore voting rights for former felons, and remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Right Amendment. He has been a proud cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

From 1987-2006, Ben Cardin represented Maryland's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and served for 17 years on the Ways & Means Committee. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967-1986. During his time as Speaker from 1979-1986, he reformed Maryland's property tax system, the school financing formula and the ethical standards for elected officials.

A 1967 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (1st in his class), he earned his B.A. degree in 1964 from the University of Pittsburgh (cum laude). He is a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Policy Studies' National Advisory Board and the St. Mary's College Advisory Board, Center for Study of Democracy. Senator Cardin is married to Myrna Edelman Cardin and his daughter Deborah and son-in-law Jonathan Willis have two daughters, Madeline and Julia.

Nicol Polidoro

Northeast Regional Account Manager Port Department, The Port Authority of NY & NJ.

Nicol Polidoro joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in November 2019. She works in the Port Department’s Business Development and Industry Relations Division, as Northeast Regional Account Manager. Nicol is responsible for managing relationships with port users and customers to promote the Port of New York and New Jersey as well as enhance the existing customer experience and develop new business opportunities. Before joining the Port Authority, Nicol was with American Presidential Lines (APL) for two years as Senior Account Manager for the New Jersey area. Prior to that, Nicol worked at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics for 14 years, in which she was responsible for the Northeast region facilitating the transport of Canadian cargo through the United States.

Tara Emam

Senior Manager of Strategic Accounts, Port of Virginia

Tara Emam is an accomplished international supply chain professional with more than 15 years of industry experience. She started her international supply chain career with NVO’s working for Panalpina and Dacon Logistics where she had responsibilities covering import/export operations, ocean contract negotiations, procurement, and sales. From there Tara spent 7 years with Intermodal Management System, LLC a national drayage truck broker where she handled national sales before making her move to the port. Tara joined The Port of Virginia in 2018 as Northeast Area Manager and is currently Senior Manager of Strategic Accounts with a focus on the e-commerce vertical. Her role entails cargo and infrastructure growth, developing client relationship management strategies, and being closely engaged with clients in order to suggest innovative solutions to meet their needs. Tara is also active in industry organizations. In addition to being an active member of many organizations she currently serves on the Logistics Committee of the Green Coffee Association and also sits on the board of the International Commerce Club as Assistant Vice President. Tara earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and being active, which includes “shooting hoops” and hiking.

James Butcher

Marketing and Sales Representative – Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT)

Born 1948, NYC. Former president, Höegh Autoliners Inc. (1999-2009, served 1972-2009), former CEO & Chairman, Port Dolphin Energy LLC (LNG Terminal operating company and subsidiary of Höegh LNG,) Adjunct Professor at SUNY Maritime College, Director, former president, Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point NY, and Long Island University (MBA,) experienced in all phases of vessel operations including c/p performance, P&I matters, and commercial matters relating to the RoRo and container trades.

Moderator:

Stephen (Steve) Schein

Branch Manager at EMO Trans, Inc.

Stephen Schein has a great depth of experience in the field of international and domestic logistics- in shipping operations, sales and management, as well as experience in domestic and international manufacturing, sourcing, purchasing, and production planning. He is currently the branch manager of the EMO Trans, Inc. location that is responsible for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. EMO Trans, Inc was founded in 1965 as a privately-owned third-party logistics company and is based in Long Island, NY. It has 26 operational offices in the US, with a total of 85 EMO Trans offices in 21 countries and 250+ network offices in 120 countries covering 6 continents.

Sponsors

This was a cross metro and hybrid event (in-person and via zoom) organized by Global Chamber chapters in Baltimore/Washington, New York, and Miami.

In Person Locations

Baltimore/Washington: At EMO Trans: 9881 Broken Land Pkwy Ste 301, Columbia, MD 21046

New York: At Corpay: 1350 Broadway, Suite 810, New York, NY, 10018

Executive Directors

Mi Jeong Hibbitts, Executive Director, Global Chamber Baltimore/Washington

Mi Jeong Hibbitts is an international business and marketing expert with extensive expertise in the areas of international trade, marketing, advertising, journalism/media, finance, and the US government. Mi Jeong is currently the Executive Director for the Global Chamber® Baltimore/Washington region, an organization that helps members in 525 metro areas worldwide, and growing, bridge new global business opportunities. Mi Jeong is also president of Robert & William, LLC, an international trade and marketing consulting firm located in Maryland where she brings decades of broad working experience in the private and public sectors in the US and overseas. Her services focus on assisting companies engaging in cross border trade between the US and Asia by providing strategic guidance and practical knowhow, including providing leads and contacts related to market entry, development, and expansion strategy.

Mi Jeong previously served as the Director of International Sales and Marketing with PTC International, Inc., a privately-owned international business and marketing company in the Food and Beverage industry, where she oversaw multimillion-dollar international sales and marketing programs and managed multinational teams and offices. In that role, she helped various products and services of US suppliers in the industry to reach the dynamic markets in Asia, primarily in S. Korea. During her tenure, she led marketing initiatives, new business and development strategies and advised major clients such as Lotte Confectionery and Lotte Foods in S. Korea on US market trends, technology, regulations, and product development. In the public sector, Mi Jeong served in the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), where she provided high-level Business Management/Administration services, including budget, finance, procurement/acquisition, personnel, and special management projects for the Office of Digital, Design and Innovation (ODDI). She also served as a Congressional Correspondent for the East Asia division of the Voice of America, which is one of 5 broadcasters BBG oversees. During her tenure, Mi Jeong conducted numerous high profile interviews leading to various recognitions and awards. Prior to her public sector service, she was a seasoned marketing and advertising professional and worked for MBC AdCom, an International marketing /advertising company in S.Korea, as an Account Executive handling multimillion-dollar accounts in various industries including automotive, airlines, insurance, cosmetics, etc. She graduated from Ewha Womans University in South Korea with a degree in English Language and Literature and earned an MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa under the US Congress funded East West Center Scholarship. She is bilingual in English and Korean and has traveled extensively in Asia.

Susan Assadi, Executive Director, Global Chamber NYC

Susan leads GAPR, a PR firm with an emphasis on expert and thought leadership campaigns. She is a highly respected national media strategist who helps her clients to be promoted to the national media, weaving in compelling stories that resonate with top media outlets. Her campaigns have enabled her clients to have features and recurring citations in The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters and Bloomberg. As a result of her campaigns, her clients have been boosted into leaders of their respective fields. Susan has over four decades representing public and private companies in the financial services, corporate governance and the proxy industry, alternative energy, and those with an emphasis on responsible business practices such as ESG. Most recently she has been working with disruptors who are helping to build the domestic supply chain of rare earth materials. Susan also has represented some leading non-profits. She also co-founded Safed House, a non-profit, that provides a welcoming place for refugees and recent immigrants to share their stories.

Her firm’s campaigns are fresh, creative, tech savvy, and innovative, a cocktail that engenders powerful results.

Prior to founding her own PR firm, Susan was the publicist for PBS MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. She received a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from New York University, and obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lynare Robbins, Executive Director, Global Chamber Miami

Lynare is a veteran of the United States Navy and serves on the Florida Advisory Committee and Veterans for Smart Power for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, an organization which promotes bipartisan support for international development and diplomacy to strengthen national security and foreign relations. Lynare holds an Associates in Arts in Behavioral Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and Masters degrees in Human Behavior and International Relations & Conflict Resolution. She is the founder and president of Robbins Global Innovations, a boutique international relations consultancy agency specializing in curriculum development, internationally driven programs/events, and customized services for trade missions, including identifying potential partners and coordinating activities. Lynare serves on the Board of Directors for the World Affairs Council of Miami, and on the Board of Directors for Food For Life Network and Care Resource.